標籤: confession

On Tuesday evening, the Denver Nuggets continued their winning ways with a narrow road win over the Phoenix Suns. This game probably came a little closer than fans wanted, but ultimately, Denver was able to muster enough to secure the victory.

Nikola Jokic filled the stat sheet in this one, scoring 23 points with 17 rebounds and 17 assists as well as the game-winning bucket, and also made history, recording the fifth-fastest triple double on record.

After the game, Jokic had a strong reaction to the accomplishment.

“It just happens,” Jokic said, according to the former NBA on Twitter.

NBC Sports sideline reporter Grant Liffman quipped, “It happens often.”

Making NBA history has become routine for Jokic during his future Hall of Fame career, as he has set countless records for both the Nuggets franchise and the league as a whole.

Currently, the Nuggets are trying to add a second ring to their trophy case, having failed to make it past the second round of the NBA Championship since the 2022–23 season. Jokic hasn’t looked like himself since returning from a knee injury earlier this season, leading some to wonder if the team has him back too soon, but over the past few games he’s started to look closer to the MVP version of himself, continuing his impressive performance against the Suns on Tuesday.

The Nuggets are now 45-28 on the season, good for fourth place in the coveted Western Conference playoff picture, a half game behind the Minnesota Timberwolves.

In any case, Denver will next take the field on Wednesday evening for a home game against the Dallas Mavericks.

Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey has quickly become one of the NBA’s elite players. The potential was obvious when he entered the league in 2020, but many probably did not anticipate that he would be in the position he is in today.

Maxey is widely considered a top-tier playmaker, commonly mentioned alongside Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic, New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson and Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham.

Maxi, 25, has always bet on himself, even during his college days at Kentucky. He has carried that confidence to the NBA.

On “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” he was asked if he felt intimidated playing against players he grew up watching. Maxi’s answer it was perfect.

“When I’m in the game, I’ve got to cook for these guys. That’s my job,” the two-time All-Star said with a smile.

“Yeah, I have to cook these guys when I’m at the game. It’s my job.”

What if Tyrese Maxey goes crazy playing against the greatest players of all time?
pic.twitter.com/ZmQhM1Whhu

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 25 March 2026

He admitted that he sometimes faints after games, which is quite normal for a young player like him.

He had to move quickly with the 76ers amid center Joel Embiid’s continued injury struggles. After a quiet rookie season, he has improved his game every year, including being named Most Improved Player in 2024.

This season, he has career averages of 29.0 points, 4.1 rebounds, 6.7 assists and 2.0 steals. He has a chance to earn his first nomination to the All-NBA team, although a finger injury may hamper his eligibility, as he has only played 61 games.

Regardless, Maxi will be a regular feature for the 76ers as he tries to lead the team to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2001.

Mike Conley’s playing time has declined significantly this season with the Minnesota Timberwolves, as the team aims to introduce younger players into the lineup. Although this is the case, head coach Chris Finch admits it is difficult not to play the 19-year-old veteran.

Speaking to media members on Tuesday, Finch admitted that removing the 38-year-old point guard from the rotation is one of the toughest decisions he has made in his coaching career, according to Timberwolves reporter Dan Moore. Finch compared not playing with Conley to being on offense.

“Honestly, it’s one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do in coaching,” Finch said of benching Conley. “Especially with who he is as a person and professional, and everything he’s done for us. Feels like a crime against humanity.”

Chris Finch was asked what it was like to have Mike Connelly removed from the rotation.

“To be honest with you, it’s one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do in coaching… especially with who he is as a person and a professional, and everything he’s done for us. It feels… pic.twitter.com/jSeYDaP3BD

– Dane Moore (@DaneMooreNBA) 24 March 2026

Mike Conley has played in 47 games for the Timberwolves this season, starting nine of those contests. His playing time decreased shortly after as he was traded twice this season (first to the Chicago Bulls, then to the Charlotte Hornets) before being released by Charlotte, only to re-sign with Minnesota.

In the games he played, Conley averaged career lows in minutes (17.8), points (4.1), rebounds (1.7), assists (2.9), and steals (0.6). His field goal percentage (31.5%) and three-point percentage (31.1%) are also career lows.

Conley is scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent after the 2025-26 campaign. The one-time All-Star will get an opportunity to sign with a new team in the offseason. However, due to lack of playing time and his age, it is likely that Mike Conley will retire after this season.

The Boston Celtics have been up and down lately, losing at home to the Anthony Edwards-less Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday evening. It’s been some tough games for star Jayson Tatum, who recently suffered a brutal shooting night during a road win over the Memphis Grizzlies, and was ineffective once again in the loss to Minnesota.

However, one person who isn’t concerned with Tatum’s declining shooting numbers is former NBA wing Iman Shumpert, who took to ESPN to urge calm.

“I don’t think the Celtics should resort to feeling like this is a ‘make sure he fits in’ type of situation. … When May 1 comes, he’ll be ready,” Shumpert said, according to First Take on X, formerly of Twitter.

To reach May 1, the Celtics will have to get through the first round of the playoffs, which may not be an easy task considering the way some of the teams at the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings are playing at the moment.

However, it is certainly unreasonable for fans to assume that Tatum will be able to regain his prime form immediately upon stepping onto the court following ten months of rehabilitation from his Achilles injury. Most importantly, Tatum has shown the ability to move relatively well laterally, and although he is still scratching the rust off his outside jumper, he seems to be fitting in well with his Celtics teammates so far.

Boston is currently the number two seed in the Eastern Conference, but they will have some work to do to stop the New York Knicks, who are playing their best basketball at the right time.

The Celtics take the field for a tough home game next Wednesday against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The Orlando Magic lost 128-126 against the Indiana Pacers at the Kia Center on Monday when Paolo Banchero’s game-winning attempt was blocked as time expired.

The Pacers finally ended their franchise-record 16-game losing streak, while the Magic suffered their fifth consecutive loss.

Orlando won on a jump ball with just 6.4 seconds left in the game. Banchero attacked the rim, but was faced by Pascal Siakam and Jay Huff, who held down the fort.

After the game, the 23-year-old Banchero said may have been fouled On the last play, as reported by Jason Beede of the Orlando Sentinel.

“We took an aggressive step to the hoop. I thought they both jumped on me with their bodies, but they were both straight up, you know? So it could have been a foul, but it wasn’t. It was a tough one,” Banchero said.

I asked #magical Forward Paolo Banchero on the last game and whether he felt he was fouled by Indiana:

“I thought they both jumped into me with their bodies, but they were both straight up, you know? So, it could have been a foul, but it wasn’t. And yes, it was a hard one.” https://t.co/IugjbiTXq0 pic.twitter.com/4QsqqlTRLi

-Jason Beede (@therealBeede) 24 March 2026

The fourth-year forward had a heroic performance, finishing with a game-high 39 points on 13-of-27 shooting. He added four rebounds and six assists.

Banchero has found his rhythm after struggling with his efficiency in the first half of the campaign.

The Magic played without Jalen Suggs, Franz Wagner and Anthony Black due to various illnesses.

While they admitted a painful loss at the hands of the Pacers, Banchero stressed they need to move on quickly as they face the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday at Rocket Arena.

“We don’t really have time to get our heads down. We’ve got to come back to Cleveland tomorrow and try to get a win there,” Banchero said, quoting Beede.

The Magic are in eighth place in the Eastern Conference with a 38–33 record.

The Orlando Magic have slipped a bit on their recent seven-game win streak, losing two consecutive games to the Atlanta Hawks and Oklahoma City Thunder. The Magic have been playing shorthanded recently, with forward Franz Wagner missing a game since February 11 due to an ankle injury.

Recently, Wagner got 100% honest about the frustrations of the rehab process as he wants to get back into the lineup before the end of the season.

According to Jason Beede of the Orlando Sentinel, Wagner said, “Going into this, I expected to feel really good within 4–6 weeks of the injury.” “And obviously I didn’t feel that way. So, I think it’s always disappointing, not only for me (but) for everyone involved.”

Many Magic fans were also hoping that Wagner would be back by this time, but apparently, the recovery process has not proceeded as smoothly as expected.

The Magic have done a solid job of holding down the fort in Wagner’s absence, currently sitting in sixth place in the Eastern Conference, but they are in danger of slipping back into the play-in zone with a losing streak against the Charlotte Hornets on Thursday.

When healthy, Wagner is a versatile forward who can do it on both ends of the floor, and early this season he showed signs of an improved outside jumper, an area long viewed as his main weakness.

If he can get back on the field before the playoffs arrive, the Magic won’t be a team anyone is looking forward to facing off against.

Orlando’s game against the Hornets on Thursday at Charlotte is scheduled to begin at 7:00 PM ET.

De’Aaron Fox spent the first seven and a half years of his NBA career with the Sacramento Kings. 13 months after being traded to the San Antonio Spurs, there’s no doubt where the two-time All-Star’s attention lies, including when he returns to his former home.

“No, it’s just another game to me,” Fox said. “We’re worried about us. We’re worried about trying to win a championship.”

Fox’s tenure in Sacramento included two of the franchise’s best seasons in the last 20 years. The 2022–2023 team won the division championship with 48 wins. The following year, the Kings won 46. It was the organization’s most successful season since a 50-win campaign in 2004–05.

Fox reiterated, “Obviously, it’s nice to be back here because I get a chance to meet people I’ve seen for years. But, other than that, when we get between those lines, it’s a normal game.”

De’Aaron Fox comments on current Kings

Things are a lot different in Sacramento than they were in February of 2024, when a trade sent Fox to San Antonio. Kings star Domantas Sabonis is out the remainder of the season after undergoing meniscus surgery. Russell Westbrook, who started 51-18 in his most recent contest, a 132-104 loss to the Spurs, is now a key rotational player.

“I mean, obviously, the personnel and everything has changed, but I don’t see them any more than any other team,” Fox said.

At 18–52, the Kings have the worst record in the West after the loss to the Spurs. It’s a spot these Spurs are somewhat familiar with. Two years ago, they finished 22-60 with rookie Victor Vembanyama. Although Fox was still in Sacramento at the time, it’s a reality he sees through the eyes of his current and former teammates.

“In the rebuilding phase, I think the young guys (Kings) are playing well,” Fox said. “You want to be able to see it because, looking at where we were last year, the young guys are playing well.”

De’Aaron Fox reflects on the rise of the Spurs

The former Kentucky star played just over a month with the Spurs last season and played just five games with Wembley during that span. Two weeks after the Foxes arrived in San Antonio, Wembanyama was shut down for the remainder of the regular season due to a blood clot in his right shoulder. Less than a month later, the team decided to sideline Fox for the remainder of the year, dealing with a finger injury since training camp.

Through it all, the Spurs improved by 12 wins from the previous season.

“You get that experience, you get those reps, and then you come in the next season, try to hit the ground running,” the 28-year-old guard said.

With 19 points per game this season, Fox is second to Wembley among team scoring leaders and earned his second trip to the All-Star Game. Like the Kings, he is proving to be a major factor in the Spurs’ return to winning ways.

BOSTON — This latest six-game road trip is basically a brief reunion tour for Golden State Warriors center Kristaps Porzingis. With stops in New York, Washington, DC, Atlanta and Dallas, Porzingis has been making waves in the city of every team he has been with throughout his decade in the NBA. But this latest stop in Boston, the city where he helped the Celtics win their first title in sixteen years, is the place where it may mean the most.

At the Warriors’ morning shootaround, Porzingis spoke to the media about his time playing in Boston and all of the good memories he has with the Celtics.

“It feels good to be back,” Porzingis smiled. “It’s a little weird. I missed the city. Of course, as you’re reading, I missed everything. Honestly, it’s good memories. You know, [it] It’s weird to be back a little bit, but it’s a good feeling.”

Porzingis joined Boston via trade with the Washington Wizards in the summer of 2023, with hopes he could give the Jayson Tatum-Jaylen Brown Celtics a boost up front. And with his size, defense and shooting, Porzingis did exactly that.

he averaged Averaged 20.1 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.9 blocks in 57 games in 2023-24. And while injuries sidelined him in the second and third rounds of the NBA Playoffs, Porzingis made a triumphant return in Game 1 of the NBA Finals, rocking TD Garden when he scored 18 points off the bench in the first half.

But for all of his basketball successes with the Celtics, what Porzingis remembers most about his time in Bean Town is the city itself.

“[I remember] A lot of little moments, even outside of basketball,” Porzingis said. “Being in the city, my little places to go for coffee, just overall my life in Boston, I really enjoyed it. Basketball was very stressful here. I won’t lie, but it comes with character. And we did it. So I would say the whole package was special.

Kristaps Porzingis after leaving the Celtics

But while the memories of Boston will remain fond, it has been a bit of a rough ride for Porzingis since leaving. Porzingis played only 42 games in the Celtics’ title defense season, as injuries derailed his availability. And when the New York Knicks eliminated Boston in six games, with Tatum tearing his Achilles in the process, it signaled the end of that iteration of the Celtics, as salary cap issues would prove too costly to run it back.

As such, the Celtics sent Porzingis to the Atlanta Hawks as a sacrifice to avoid the second apron penalty. And in Atlanta, things will get worse. Porzingis was diagnosed with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), a chronic condition that cut his time in Atlanta short. Porzingis would only play 17 games for the Hawks before the Warriors traded him for Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield.

And while Porzingis has recently gotten healthy, scoring a season-high 30 points last night in D.C., the illness sidelined him for six games just after joining the Warriors. It’s safe to say that it’s been a tough season for Latvians.

“This season has been rough,” Porzingis admitted. “But now I’m healthy. Feeling really good. So I’m getting a real good feeling about basketball again, you know? Which is the most important, because everything else goes second when you’re not feeling right.

“It’s natural to feel that way, and now, when I’m really getting my feet back, getting in good shape, it’s a good reminder of why I love it. Just enjoying playing here.”

Kristaps Porzingis’ expectations from the Boston crowd

The POTS situation, along with the illness, is why this season has been so disappointing for Porzingis. From constantly feeling low on energy, to constant fatigue, to sudden bouts of illness, it has been a tough time for the big man.

But as far as whether it would put his career in question, Porzingis didn’t want to go there.

“I really didn’t want to get those thoughts in my mind,” Porzingis explained.

“Even in general, for life, I don’t want to live at 60% of my energy. I don’t want to feel – I don’t want to live this way. Eventually, I will find a way. No matter what, I will find a way to get how I feel to where I need to feel. At least I’m close to where I was, you know? And I honestly did. Now I’m healing really well again. Everything is back. So I finally feel. “I am starting to be myself again.”

Either way, it will be a heartwarming return for Porzingis in Boston. She will get the full red carpet. A tribute video, standing ovations, high-fives and hugs from past teammates and coaches, the whole nine yards. But whether it will make him emotional or not, Porzingis can’t say.

“I don’t know. But not in the middle of the game, like, I’m not going to cry then,” Porzingis said, laughing. “But definitely, good memories. Good, good memories. Honestly, thinking about it now, I got a good feeling. Obviously I loved my team here a lot, and let’s see how tonight goes.”

SAN FRANCISCO – If things couldn’t get any worse for the Golden State Warriors, already a team without stars Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler, it did in a 127-117 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday night.

Al Horford, Quinton Post and Seth Curry all sat out Golden State’s fourth consecutive loss. And before that, Draymond Green was scratched 20 minutes before the game started. That left the Warriors struggling for healthy bodies as T-Wolves star Anthony Edwards finished with 42 points on 13-22 shooting.

After the game, Dubs coach Steve Kerr acknowledged how depleted and injured the Warriors were at the moment as they fell to 32–34 on the season.

“We’re definitely going through it,” Kerr said. “But you saw how hard the guys played and stuck in it and got the fans into it. And we can’t ask for anything more from our players right now. What they’re giving as far as effort and playing together. But yeah, we lost just as well as any team I can ever remember.”

Beating is an understatement.

With seven players out due to injury, the Warriors were missing more than $160 million in salary. That’s about 70% of their $233,853,209 payroll. And to add literal insult to injury, this latest skid has allowed the Los Angeles Clippers to overtake them for the eighth seed, leaving them just a half-game ahead of the Portland Trail Blazers in 10th.

status of wounded warriors

However, it remains to be seen whether these latest injuries will persist.

Kerr had no update after the game on Green, Post or Curry. As far as Horford is concerned, Kerr had few details regarding the veteran big man’s situation. While the team announced during the game that Horford was out due to right calf soreness, Kerr described Horford’s injury as a “strain” after the game.

“With a calf strain, I don’t know how long Al will be out,” Kerr said. “But I hope that with the calf, we won’t have to move him back too quickly.”

With Horford potentially out for a while, Kerr hopes to turn to Kristaps Porzingis for starts in the meantime. Porzingis, who has battled injuries this season and throughout his career, has had some encouraging games after missing six consecutive games due to illness. Porzingis finished with 20 points in 19 minutes of action, the most points he has scored in his four games for the Warriors.

“Feeling fine,” Porzingis said after the game. “Step by step, just trying to get back into really good shape. Still got a way to go, but happy with the progress so far.”

Captured the fort for the Golden State

In the meantime, the onus will be on Porzingis and the rest of the healthy Warriors to deal with this latest storm of injuries.

But with injuries also come opportunities. Brandin Podziemski, who has excelled in basketball since Curry’s passing, understands that common NBA adage.

“I look at it as a blessing in disguise,” Podziemski said optimistically after collecting 25 points and 10 rebounds in the loss.

“Just because it’s an opportunity and you’re able to build confidence when you’re out there, especially when there’s no expectations, and people are probably expecting us to lose. So it’s a blessing to me that when other guys come back, that confidence you build, you can be ready to show when you come back as well.”

There is an obvious concern that due to not having enough healthy bodies, the remaining players may get tired from the extra workload. But Kerr isn’t too worried about that potential issue. He pointed to the medical staff’s diligence in monitoring that potential problem and the youth of the remaining players.

Despite this, Kerr is keeping an optimistic outlook, presenting this latest round of injuries as something he has to get past.

“I feel like there are really brighter days ahead,” Kerr said. “So you just have to go through a tough situation.”

The trajectory of the Dallas Mavericks franchise changed on February 1, 2025, when the franchise inexplicably traded superstar guard Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers. The Lakers were gifted a 25-year-old megastar after their first NBA Finals appearance, while the Lakers traded away 31-year-old Anthony Davis, 21-year-old Max Christie and a 2029 first-round pick.

Dallas has been unable to recover from the brutal trade, and fans said they would not be satisfied until Nico Harrison was fired, which came less than a year after the trade was pulled off.

The Mavs selected Cooper Flagg with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft last year, and hope to add another piece to their puzzle this summer.

In a recent interview with Adam Friedland on The Adam Friedland Show, former Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban talked about the franchise’s decision to trade Luka Doncic without consulting him.

“Do you regret hiring Nico Harrison? Cuban was asked.

“Yeah, sometimes, I do,” Cuban replied. “When we do stupid things like the Luka trade. I miss it because I think the fans have been let down, and I think because I’ve let them down. That’s what bothers me the most.

“As much as I loved it, and I still love the Mavs. I’ll always be a Mavs fan, sometimes there’s bigger things to do. I love the Mavs.”

To this day, Mark Cuban says he still remembers exactly where he was and how the famous Luka Doncic deal happened.

“I remember exactly where I was,” Cuban said. “I was talking to Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, literally I was at a health care event and there were six or seven politicians there. We were having beers and I got a message from our general manager and he said, ‘Hey can you talk?’

“I hired him. Yeah, looking back now, it was a mistake. He was like, ‘Mark call me,’ and I did and when he told me about it, I thought he was asking me instead of telling me and he said, ‘No, it’s done.’ And I was like fuck?!

Mark Cuban has retained a small ownership stake after once seeing the majority prior to the Doncic trade. At 23-41 on the season, the Dallas Mavericks are the third-worst team in the Western Conference and will hopefully be able to acquire pieces that will best complement each other.

The Dallas Mavericks welcomed rookie star Cooper Flagg to the lineup Thursday against the Orlando Magic, a game that came down to execution in the clutch. It was the Magic who secured a 115–114 victory after a late-game dunk by Wendell Carter Jr.

But Cooper Flagg had spectacular moments of his own, helping the Mavericks score four points in the final 37 seconds of the game. Flagg scored on an and-one to give the Mavericks control of the game. But they couldn’t maintain the lead and surrendered a 3-point shot to Jalen Suggs just before Carter’s dunk.

According to Mike Curtis of The Dallas Morning News, after the game, Flagg talked about his comfort level playing in tough time situations.

“I would say I’m pretty comfortable. Obviously we’ve been in a lot of these situations this season,” Flagg said. “We haven’t won one of those, but it’s all a learning experience for us right now. That’s what we have to take away from this. We’ve got to learn, we’ve got to get better. We’ll be in a ton of these situations moving forward next year. Just taking it in and learning. I’m pretty comfortable at this point.”

Flagg finished the game with a well-rounded stat line of 18 points, five rebounds, six assists, one steal and four blocked shots in his return from injury. He played 26 minutes and shot 7 of 22 from the field, 1 of 4 from the 3-point line, and 3 of 3 from the free-throw line.

One of the frontrunners for the Rookie of the Year award along with Con Knueppel, Flagg was sidelined before the All-Star break with a foot injury.

He has played just over 33 minutes per game in 50 games this season. He is averaging 20.3 points, 6.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.2 steals while shooting 47.8 percent from the field, 30.1 percent from the 3-point line and 80.7 percent from the free-throw line.

Kawhi Leonard of the Los Angeles Clippers has had his minutes restricted recently due to an ankle injury. Leonard initially fouled out of the game against the Los Angeles Lakers with more than five minutes remaining on the clock, but has since produced 37 points and eight rebounds in a loss against the Orlando Magic.

However, as it appears, Leonard has not fully recovered from the ankle problem and recently revealed that it was a “long injury” according to a post on the Ax by Sports Illustrated’s Farbod Esnashari.

Kawhi Leonard says his ankle pain has persisted for a long time. The medical team asked him against the Lakers to see if it was getting loose, and he went to the back but it wasn’t getting loose.

Kawhi said he didn’t want to potentially mess up his availability… pic.twitter.com/gwOaImqClr

– Farbod Esnashari (@Farbod_E) 23 February 2026

The journalist revealed, “Kawhi said he didn’t want to potentially ruin his availability against the Magic by forcing him to play against the Lakers.”

As far as the Clippers’ ceiling is concerned, Leonard remains extremely important. Through 43 games, the All-Star forward is averaging 28 points, 6.4 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game, while shooting nearly 49% from the field and 38% from three.

Of course, Leonard also remains one of the best, if not the best two-way stars in the league, and his importance has only increased following James Harden’s exit. The Clippers are somewhat removed from playoff relevance and currently sit below the .500 mark despite an uptick in form.

They currently sit 10th in the West with a 27-30 record and are largely dependent on Kawhi’s health if they get to the postseason. However, fans will be pleased to see how he has continued to perform at a high level despite the ankle problem.

Leonard played a vital role against the Lakers and kept his team in the game till the end. The Clippers could have easily won the game if he hadn’t been forced to do so, and his 37-point performance against the Magic despite the injury shows what he brings to the table.

For now, fans will hope that he recovers soon.

Honoring former Los Angeles Lakers coach Pat Riley, who won five NBA championships with the team as head coach from 1981 to 1990, famed actor Michael Douglas referenced his Wall Street character, Gordon Gekko.

Douglas spoke at the unveiling of Riley’s statue. He joked that his Wall Street character’s look was inspired by Riley in a very specific way.

“Gordon Gekko’s hairstyle came from Pat Riley” – Michael Douglas on getting inspiration for his iconic role in the film Wall Street from the Hall of Fame Lakers coach pic.twitter.com/TERNYPDLpq

-Dave McMenamin (@mcten) 22 February 2026

Douglas added, “And yes, I have to admit that Gordon Gekko’s hairstyle came from Pat Riley,” causing some members of the crowd to laugh.

Gordon Gekko is Douglas’ character in the series Wall Street. The first film was released in 1987, and a sequel followed in 2010. Douglas starred in Wall Street with Charlie Sheen, Martin Sheen and Daryl Hannah.

Pat Riley’s great innings with the Lakers

Riley is largely associated with his time with the Lakers. He played for them from 1970 to 1975 and won the 1972 NBA Finals with them.

After retiring as a player, Riley joined the Lakers in 1979 as an assistant coach. He was then promoted to head coach in 1981, and held the position until 1990.

During his tenure as head coach of the Lakers, Riley led the team to four NBA championships. They won titles in 1982, 1985, 1987 and 1988. The Lakers also won the NBA Finals in 1980 when Riley was still an assistant coach.

He then joined the New York Knicks from 1991 to 1995, and Riley coached the Miami Heat for several years and won an NBA championship.

As an executive, Riley has won two NBA championships. The Heat went back-to-back in 2012 and 2013 with the “Big Three” (LeBron James, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade).

After all, the Lakers have honored Riley in fitting fashion. His statue is installed outside the Crypto.com Arena. He has been immortalized alongside artists like Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

On Sunday evening, NBA All-Star weekend concluded with the big game (or games in this case) at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles. Among those who kicked off the event was Philadelphia 76ers star guard Tyrese Maxey, who is enjoying a great 2025-26 season so far this year.

This was Maxi’s second All-Star nomination of his career, having previously returned to the team in 2024, and recently, the difference the star saw between this time and his first outing was 100% real.

According to Gina Mizell of the Enquirer, Maxi said, “I feel very little out of place.” “[Two years ago, I] Was nervous. This is your first time. You don’t know when to talk, when not to talk. Now I go into my team’s locker room, I was the second oldest guy. “I played against guys who were like that growing up, and it was really fun to be in the locker room.”

In fact, Maxey has played a veteran role not only in the All-Star Game, but also on the 76ers, serving as a mentor to rookie sensation VJ Edgecombe so far this year.

Maxey and Edgecomb have teamed up to create one of the most explosive backcourts anywhere in the NBA, destroying opposing defenses with his lightning speed and ability to make tough shots from the perimeter.

Maxey and the 76ers will be hoping that Joel Embiid is able to stay at least somewhat healthy during the 2025-26 season, and Paul George is able to return to form after serving the remainder of his 25-game suspension.

If things like that happen, and Maxey and Edgecombe continue their torrid pace from the first half of the year, the 76ers won’t be an opponent anyone will want to see come playoff time.

The 76ers next face off on Thursday evening at home against the Atlanta Hawks.

LOS ANGELES — As he explained Saturday, it was a short stint for Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic during the NBA All-Star Game. Doncic took the court for the first time since suffering a minor hamstring injury during the Lakers’ win against the Philadelphia 76ers on February 5.

During his media availability session as part of All-Star Weekend, Doncic admitted that he was only going to play a little bit in the actual game, and that his hamstring injury was looking good. Sure enough, Doncic only played five minutes in the first game of Team World’s new All-Star format, sitting out the second game. He finished with two points and two assists while shooting 1-3 from the field.

After Team World’s exit from the new All-Star Game tournament, Doncic explains how his injury felt after getting back on the court

“It was cool. Obviously I wanted to be there, the fans voted for me to be in this game so I wanted to be there and be a part of it a little bit,” Doncic said. “But [my hamstring] I liked it.”

Doncic missed four consecutive games after the injury. The Lakers went 3–2 in those games. They came into the All-Star break with a 33–21 record and fifth place in the Western Conference standings. They are only one and a half games behind the current No. 3 seed Denver Nuggets, but only one and a half games behind the No. 7 seed Phoenix Suns and the play-in spot.

As the Lakers try to build some stability during the final stretch of the season, one thing they are counting on is staying healthy. Injuries have forced the Lakers to shuffle their lineup, and while they have a full roster available, they have yet to find a consistent extension.

Doncic thinks that’s the main thing for the team to finish strong over the next few months.

“Just health,” Doncic said. “We are struggling with injuries a lot, so this will help.

In his first full season with the Lakers since the trade, Doncic appeared in 42 games at a rate of just over 35 minutes per game. He averaged a league-leading 32.8 points, 7.8 rebounds, 8.6 assists and 1.5 steals while splitting 47.3 percent shooting from the field, 34.5 percent shooting from the 3-point line and 78.1 percent shooting from the free-throw line.

The Lakers will resume play after the All-Star break on Friday, February 20 at home against the LA Clippers.